The kids dragged Fauna and Ethan to the courtyard behind their school-cottage, and assembled in neat rows as they were ready to be marched off into the battlefields of the surface. Fauna then called the twenty or so children who were magically inclined to the front of the group, while the rest sat in awe as the show was about to begin.

Ethan perched comfortably atop a stone pillar, his single crimson eye scanning the scene before him. The classroom Fauna had set up in the Sanctum was nothing short of heartwarming—if you were the type to get all mushy about that sort of thing. Dozens of wide-eyed Hopla children sat in neat rows, their floppy ears twitching in excitement as they eagerly awaited the magic lesson to begin.

Fauna, with her characteristic gentle grace, moved among them, demonstrating basic spells with ease. Little sparks of light twirled from her fingers, illuminating the space in soft hues of violet and gold. The kids mimicked her with varied success—some producing perfect orbs of light, while others managed more of a fizzle or a puff of smoke.

“See?” Fauna smiled, clapping her hands together. “It’s all about focusing your energy. Remember: patience and control!”

Ethan couldn’t help but be impressed. He watched Fuana’s hands work their magic, the odd spell fizzling here and there, prompting some small titters from the kids who had already mastered some of the basic spells they needed for survival – spells that created trickles of light for crops, or illuminated the darkest recesses of the Sanctum. Spells that commanded the stones to halt or break apart when cave-ins threatened the field trips of the class. Spells that created little burrs of flame to warm themselves and their compatriots on those days when they couldn’t sleep, their minds preoccupied with thoughts of the dead.

One little Hopla, his nose twitching wildly, accidentally conjured a tiny fireball that shot straight into the air, nearly singeing the fur on his neighbor's ears. The class erupted into giggles, and Fauna waved a hand to dispel the rogue flame before any real damage was done.

I can’t help but feel teaching a group of nattering rabbits how to weave magic is perhaps not the best idea, Sys sighed.

I don’t know about that, Ethan replied as he watched them get up from every failed spell, rise and repeat the movements and focused effort that Fauna had clearly instilled in them over years of practice. In fact, I think they might just have the perfect teacher.

Sure, these kids were about as dangerous as a basket of kittens, but the potential was clear. Maybe it was because Valgraiva’s form was the first one that had access to an MP pool, but Ethan could practically feel the raw magic bubbling within the Hopla children, just waiting to be unleashed.

Damn, he thought, his hat-like form wiggling in a nod of approval. For a bunch of ankle-biters, they’re pretty sharp.

The brave girl who’d spoken for the group before ran to Ethan when it seemed like lessons were almost over.

“M-Mr. Ethan!” she called out, waving her tiny paw enthusiastically. “Can you show us some of your powers?”

The request was like setting off a chain reaction. Suddenly, the entire class was on their feet, bouncing around, ears flopping as they chanted in unison:

“Yeah! Show us, Mr. Ethan! Please!”

Fauna shot Ethan an amused look. She simply shrugged in defeat. “Looks like you’ve got yourself an audience, Archon.”

Well, hell. Ethan rolled his eye in mock reluctance, then hopped down from his perch with a graceful plop, landing right in front of the excited crowd. “Alright, alright. Settle down, fuzzballs. You want a show? I’ll give you a show.”

The kids erupted in cheers, crowding closer. Fauna stepped back, her smile never fading as she watched the children’s enthusiasm soar.

Ethan floated above them, his voice low and dramatic. “Alright, first up, let’s start with something sharp and dangerous. Keep your paws clear, folks.” He paused for effect, letting the tension build before declaring: “Twilight Edge!”

Dark energy swirled around him, condensing into a razor-thin, jagged blade of shadow. With a single swipe, he sent it hurtling toward a loose boulder at the back of the cavern. The edge cut clean through, disintegrating the rock into a cloud of dust and shadowy mist. The children oohed and aahed, their mouths hanging open in awe.

“And that,” Ethan said, his voice full of theatrical flair, “is how you make short work of your enemies.”

The kids clapped, their excitement building with every second.

I can’t help but feel you’re teaching them a very different kind of less-

“What else?” one of them asked, hopping from foot to foot.

Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

Ethan grinned. “How about something with a little more impact? Check this out.”

Without further ado, Ethan shot up toward the ceiling, climbing with ease to the top of the cavern and curling in tightly before he launched himself back down in a graceful arc. He dove straight toward the floor, his momentum increasing with every second, sword aimed at the ground like he was plunging it into the neck of the Lightborn himself. The ground shook as he hit it with a powerful thud, cracking the stone beneath him.

“Dive!” he announced as dust swirled around him.

The kids squealed in delight, stumbling back from the tiny tremor that rattled the room. Even Fauna chuckled, covering her mouth as she watched their reactions.

Ethan rose, waving away the dust with a tendril-like limb. “Not bad, huh? But we’re just getting started.”

He turned his eye toward the crowd of kids, who were practically vibrating with excitement. “Wanna hear me roar?”

They screamed their approval, and Ethan’s grin widened.

“Alright, brace yourselves, kids.”

With a deep breath, Ethan summoned the power from deep within his core. His Undead lungs seemed to expand for a moment before—

[Roar: Activated]

The sound echoed through the room, a thunderous blast that shook the very air and sent a few Hopla tumbling back, laughing all the while. Even Fauna stumbled slightly, though she managed to keep her footing, grinning at the chaos.

When the roar subsided, the kids stared at him in awe, their ears standing on end.

“That was awesome!” one of them squeaked.

“I’m not done yet,” Ethan teased, his eye twinkling with mischief. “Let’s see if I can blow you all away. Literally.”

He lifted into the air once more, his body glowing faintly as he prepared his next attack. “This one’s called Wing Buffet. Hold on to your hats—oh wait, that’s me!”

CAN YOU PERHAPS CALM DOWN? EVEN JUST A LIT-

C’mon, Sys, look at their little faces! Ethan chuckled as he watched the adoring eyes of the rabbits. Guess I’ve got a bit of showman spirit in me.

He summoned up Wing Buffet and felt his shoulders contract. This time, a distinct sense of motion crawled up his spine. He looked back, seeing two skeletal, black wings emerge from his shoulder blades and curl up to ready their strike. To a human of the surface, he would look like an avenging angel of death.

But to the Hopla down here, he looked like a messiah that could rival Krea herself.

With a powerful flap of his wings a gust of wind shot out in all directions, sending the Hopla children tumbling and rolling across the floor in a flurry of giggles. Some of them held onto their ears, trying not to get swept away, while others tumbled into one another like a pile of fluffy dominoes.

Ethan landed softly, surveying the scene with satisfaction. “Not bad, right? I didn’t blow you all away, did I?”

The kids were too busy giggling to respond, their eyes wide with excitement.

“Now,” Ethan said, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper, “how about a little game?”

“A game?” the kids chorused, hopping to their feet, eyes gleaming with curiosity.

Ethan winked—well, metaphorically—and said, “How about we play a little hide-and-seek? But I warn you—I’m really good at hiding.”

With a soft mutter, Ethan activated his favorite ability.

In an instant, he faded from view, blending seamlessly into the shadows. The children gasped in astonishment, their eyes darting around the room, trying to catch a glimpse of him.

“Where’d he go?” one whispered, hopping on tiptoes to get a better view.

“I’ll give you a hint,” Ethan’s voice echoed playfully through the room, though his form remained unseen. “If you can find me, I’ll show you another trick.”

The room was filled with the sound of scurrying paws and gleeful giggles as the children fanned out, searching every nook and cranny. Fauna, watching from the sidelines, smiled warmly. It wasn’t often the kids got a break from their usual lessons, and watching them play hide-and-seek with a legendary Archon was a memory they would cherish forever.

Ethan, hidden expertly in the rafters, couldn’t help but chuckle as he watched the kids scamper around, their fluffy tails twitching as they searched high and low.

“Maybe I’m up here… or maybe I’m not!” he teased, his voice echoing through the room once more.

You are just as much a child as they are!

Maybe I am, Sys, Ethan smiled from the shadows, flitting through the back of the barn and avoiding the ever-watchful magic users Fauna had trained so well. Fuck, maybe all of us should be like kids more often.

He was finally caught by the ingenious girl who had first guided him through the school. As he giggled, moving from place to place like an illusory shadow, the girl had cast a levitation spell to manipulate the stones near the barn where the most children had been searching. As the clusters of pebbles rose into the air, so too did a corner of them shift ever so slightly at the left hand side of the barn’s far wall, and the Hopla had sent a shimmering ball of light in that direction to reveal – tada – the Archon himself.

“Found you!” the girl squeaked. And instantly she became the hero of the day.

Ethan threw up his arms in mock surrender as the kids descended on him, jumping around like human children hyped up on too much candy. But his eyes watched the astute girl as she approached, with Fauna smiling a radiant smile beside her.

“I’m guessing this one’s your star pupil,” Ethan noted as the girl approached.

She looked up at Fauna who nodded once, but it seemed her bravery was beginning to depart her. She hid behind her teacher as though she were in trouble.

And for a moment, Ethan saw someone else hiding there. Not a Hopla girl in the darkness of this other world. But a kid who was in a playground on earth, hiding away from the teachers who told him he needed to pick a path in life and stick to it at all costs…

“Hey, kid,” Ethan said. “What’s your name?”

The girl answered after a slight gulp, aware that all her classmates were watching her. “Um, Mara, Mr Eth-woah!”

Ethan had taken up the bunny-child like a trophy, and sat her on his shoulders.

“Well, Miss Mara,” he said. “As a reward for defeating the Archon, you may see the world atop his back!”

The girl grabbed onto his hat-form as he spun around and whipped up a few Wing Buffets to take the girl speeding through the school-cavern, all her little friends following along in glee.

“M-Miss Fauna!” the girl called down. “Are…can Mr Ethan stay for the big show tonight?”

Ethan stopped abruptly before he bashed into a rather mean looking stalactite.

“Big show?” he asked Fauna’s laughing face.

The Hopla teacher cast knowing looks at her students before smiling up at him.

“Mr Ethan,” she said. “The class has one last thing to show you.”